3 questions please? Trail spd pedals/Brand X play & servicing/uphil trail optimal tyre width?

[Meg Pugh]

I hope it's OK to jump in on this....
A reliable dropper post, that will manage a bag at times...
I have broken a few, then tried a second hand (!) reverb... and after a small period it has developed some squish. And reading about this now appears to generally be unreliable.
Does the BrandX come recommended? for bumpy distances with 3-5l bag on the back? Or any other recommendations would be gratefully received
thanks

[redefined_cycles]

I hope it's OK to jump in on this....
A reliable dropper post, that will manage a bag at times...
I have broken a few, then tried a second hand (!) reverb... and after a small period it has developed some squish. And reading about this now appears to generally be unreliable.
Does the BrandX come recommended? for bumpy distances with 3-5l bag on the back? Or any other recommendations would be gratefully received
thanks

Hi Meg. Yes, BrandX IMO are way better than the Rockshox. Especially on long term reliability as can be seen with mine that sags - well, actually it never sags but doesn't reach full height 5% of the time - but is probably going into it's 6th year soon.

I removed it and put in a newer one of the same which has gone back to 100% extension on first press 100% of the time. The worn one just looks like it needs a good clean and service but I am probably asking a bit much off it i the first place, in year 5 and 6 of excellent ownership!

In terms of wearing a saddlepack: it was during the Bearbones200 of 2021 (Covid édition, very lonely with no-one about at top of Offas Dyke) that I finally decided not to use a packed saddle-pack with a dropper. Coming down some rocky sections to be specific and reflecting on what I loved/needed the most. It was about 9L of kit that probably weighed about 5kg max.

Ever since, on the same dropper I've never had an issue with the 1L saddlepack with tools etc and weighing less than 1kg or thereabouts. I'd say my new Brand X would manage about 4kg (having done a subjective arm pump test on it) without fault. In terms of how long it would manage that, again in terms of how well it lasted before, I'd say it would outlast the Rockshox Reverb (hideous and unreliable things - sorry to anyone that owns and loves theirs) by about a year or 2 before needing a tear down and repump!

For £50 (105mm drop) or £90 (150mm drop) in the Wiggle/CRC sales, I'd say to go for it. But just keep the weight down to less than 3kg and should be fine (maybe a pack that has a max capacity of 4 or 5L and not the 13 and 17L I was trying to use).

Let us know how you get on (yearly updates please

[thenorthwind]

I hope it's OK to jump in on this....
A reliable dropper post, that will manage a bag at times...
I have broken a few, then tried a second hand (!) reverb... and after a small period it has developed some squish. And reading about this now appears to generally be unreliable.
Does the BrandX come recommended? for bumpy distances with 3-5l bag on the back? Or any other recommendations would be gratefully received
thanks

Brand X (and Tranz X, same make, different label) seem to be almost universally lauded. I used my Tranz X 200mm dropper on the Cairngorms Loop with a roughly 10l saddle pack on and it was fine, though admittedly it's pretty new. Probably had 2 or 3kg in there at times. I had a Brand X before that was fine, just wanted the extra drop.

The weight of a saddle pack is insignificant compared to your body weight (well for me anyway, I should be careful what I say ). Shaf, if yours gives up with 4kg of saddle pack, what happens when you sit on it?

[redefined_cycles]

Shaf, if yours gives up with 4kg of saddle pack, what happens when you sit on it?

Lol... That's why I was careful to differentiate between sag and drop (well, opposite of drop... erm.. extension). It wouldn't sag (hence my weight wouldn't affect it) but wouldn't fully entext with the 5kg on. The way I tested the new one with 5kg was by outting 5kg (calibrated bicep) of downforce and pressing the (upgraded, I'd recommend it) lever. It stops extending at about 4.95kg of downforce

Might one day go back to a saddlebag with the new one but fill it appropriately. Always thought about just getting a 3L saddlepack to meet it (the dropper) halfway

[thenorthwind]

Shaf, if yours gives up with 4kg of saddle pack, what happens when you sit on it?

Lol... That's why I was careful to differentiate between sag and drop (well, opposite of drop... erm.. extension). It wouldn't sag (hence my weight wouldn't affect it) but wouldn't fully entext with the 5kg on. The way I tested the new one with 5kg was by outting 5kg (calibrated bicep) of downforce and pressing the (upgraded, I'd recommend it) lever. It stops extending at about 4.95kg of downforce

Might one day go back to a saddlebag with the new one but fill it appropriately. Always thought about just getting a 3L saddlepack to meet it (the dropper) halfway

Ah I see, sorry, I misunderstood. But still, that doesn't sound like much weight to be stopping it from rising.

[redefined_cycles]

Shaf, if yours gives up with 4kg of saddle pack, what happens when you sit on it?

Lol... That's why I was careful to differentiate between sag and drop (well, opposite of drop... erm.. extension). It wouldn't sag (hence my weight wouldn't affect it) but wouldn't fully entext with the 5kg on. The way I tested the new one with 5kg was by outting 5kg (calibrated bicep) of downforce and pressing the (upgraded, I'd recommend it) lever. It stops extending at about 4.95kg of downforce

Might one day go back to a saddlebag with the new one but fill it appropriately. Always thought about just getting a 3L saddlepack to meet it (the dropper) halfway

Ah I see, sorry, I misunderstood. But still, that doesn't sound like much weight to be stopping it from rising.

Maybe it was more. Basically my full sleeping setup (and possible the trekkertent in there too)... Well uaed and old

[Meg Pugh]

ah thanks both - that's great, Brand x ordered - good deal atm too.
Much appreciate the detailed experience too

[redefined_cycles]

ah thanks both - that's great, Brand x ordered - good deal atm too.
Much appreciate the detailed experience too

Oh... and most importantly (of which we're all guilty, especially with loaded bikes) don't handle the bike by tugging up on the saddle. Not good at all for the legendary (on a Brand X, not a Reverb, horrible things) internals. I'm guilty of it and just can't stop myself

[redefined_cycles]

it's probably the longer dropper that won't fit due to a longer shaft/hidden post needed to take the extra length.

I can measure mine if you want

Sorry Jon. Didn't see this before. But all sorted, ta

[redefined_cycles]

Tyre update:

Went from the 2.8 Rekon 650b. They were rather worn anyway, but might go back to them as so far they've been fastest.

Swapped in a Mezcal in 2.6 width. Had to extend the seatpost length a bit and the low rolling resistance + generally non-knobbly profile meant they don't grip the ground as good. Did maybe 10 hill repeats with lots of roacks flying about and me trying to stay upright.

Swapped em out for some Butcher Grid in 2.8 by Specialised. Had thwse sat about, so no cost to me. Bigger knobblies but massive gaps between the knobs. Still not gripping the ground when the odd rock becomes loose or I don't manage to avoid a loose rock. Obviously I'm not the best of riders in first place, but definitely slwoer than the Rekon and the Mezcal.

Doing some reading about and it seems the Wicked Will is similar to the Magic Mary Gian suggested. So might see if that makes a difference, but in the back of my head, I'm really yearning a Panaracer Cindercone from back in the days.

Watch this space...

[redefined_cycles]

Oh, the Wicked Wil is reviewed as being almost as good as a Rekon for uphill rocky duties. So maybe I had the best tyre for the job in the first place. Just a bit worn

[Alpinum]

Doing some reading about and it seems the Wicked Will is similar to the Magic Mary Gian suggested.

Just the same brand. That's about it. You can't have the Wicked Will in eg "soft" compound, nor in some of the casings the Magic Mary comes along.
Tread is very different.
Your view may differ, but I wouldn't call it similar at all.

Shouting "Magic Mary!" I wasn't really being serious. Just gave an answer to you looking for heaps of grip. Obv. A baby head sized rock of roundish shape will roll under any bicycle tyre, including Surly Lou or Schwalbe Al Mighty at 0.05 bar
Seems you're best off with an okay rolling tyre and line choice. Have you walked the climb/descent? Often you spot not obvious lines when off the bike. Session the parts you struggle most.

Even the best tyres can't rescue one from the worst line choices.

[redefined_cycles]

Even the best tyres can't rescue one from the worst line choices.

Very good point Gian. Not quite walked in a dedicated fashion but the trail is constantly (seeming) to change. As the rocks fly about - maybe from the landrover or quad bikes that come up for shooting or just general hooliganism, spotted a coupled pair gping down without helmets, in dresses n shirts! - the line choices change.

Not too hard mind, regards line choice as there's only really ever two options (mouthful, sorry). The left one or the right. Go too far left and you fall into the gully and too far right it ramps up to the wall. Then there's the thorns that are constantly overgrowing into the path, for which I took one of my cable cutters for one ride. But it's just never ending, so conceded for now and maybe in a month or 2 things might be slightly different!

Good point regards the MM and the WW. As far as I've read up the WW comes in lots of carcasses too. But seems the grippier, lighter ones are both weaker and not available in the offers (so about £65, similar price to the MMs). Agreed about them rocks causing a 'ruckus' whichever tyre I use. But the (worn) Rekon for some seemed to fair alot better than all others tested so far.

At least the front Chronicle is firmly a favourite

[redefined_cycles]

Oh... and before this current repeats came about, yes I had walked it. About 73 times out of the 80 attempts total (according to Strava). Walkers generally love or hate it

[whitestone]

Shaf, for uphill work the best thing is to work on your technique and being able to keep your weight balanced in just the right spot that the rear wheel doesn't spin out and that the front wheel doesn't lift.

A better tyre will help for when you get tired and technique inevitably wanders but it's not absolutely necessary. I did the BB300 with an XR2 on the rear that was worn down enough that it was somewhere between an XR1 and an XR0, i.e. nearly bald and it was fine. Find something with a soft compound to help with grip and don't worry about anything else.

[redefined_cycles]

Shaf, for uphill work the best thing is to work on your technique and being able to keep your weight balanced in just the right spot that the rear wheel doesn't spin out and that the front wheel doesn't lift.

A better tyre will help for when you get tired and technique inevitably wanders but it's not absolutely necessary. I did the BB300 with an XR2 on the rear that was worn down enough that it was somewhere between an XR1 and an XR0, i.e. nearly bald and it was fine. Find something with a soft compound to help with grip and don't worry about anything else.

Thanks Bob. All very good points, noted. Been working on the uphill tech for the past 15 years or more and I'm hopeful this current practice might just have pushed me on the good side of a Trooper Lane - for those that don't know, steep hill, worse than Shibden Wall, full of well laid cobbles but about 20% average - attempt. Never ever been able to clear it one go, but might try.

Yes, mainly the tyre seeling out is for the big day and wheny repeats start getting past 25 during the training thingy. A sticky carcass, I did wonder about that if it's a smart option (but you both seem to have confirmed). Line choice (changes per ascent slightly) and balancing of the weight I think I have figured as much as I'll ever do.

Thanks again

[Johnallan]

Apologies if this has already been covered but tyre pressure makes a huge difference to climbing grip. From my limited experience, probably more so than the actual tyre characteristics - tread, compound etc

[redefined_cycles]

Apologies if this has already been covered but tyre pressure makes a huge difference to climbing grip. From my limited experience, probably more so than the actual tyre characteristics - tread, compound etc

Not been covered here, but over the years and reading the various reports from Bob and others about Rovienami and other such rides with various tyre sizes... I've incorporated it into my tyres. Currently on about 14psi front (3.0 x 27.5 x Maxxis Chronicle) and between 17 to 14 rear dependent on which tyre I've had on.

Very good point though and you're absolutely right. Maybe that's how the bald Rekon 2.8 had been running so nicely with the tuned tyre pressures over many many rides